No Longer Alone

Chapter Thirty

*Damian's POV* 

    I'm irritated with Alex making me late to the dinner that I requested.  He came up with different excuses and delayed us getting to everything on time, and he did it with a smug look making me wonder what he is planning.  I'm tapping my finger anxiously on my leg during the drive to the venue, unsure if he is taking a longer route than needed to continue to mess with me or not.

    "Relax man, we will be there soon, I promise, then you can try to summon the charm that you wish you had to try and get your little spitfire to relax around you."  Alex says with a smirk.  "Just remember you haven't met her kids yet, and if they don't like you, you won't stand a chance."

    I don't respond with anything but a glare towards Alex, rubbing my thumb against the ring that I had bought.  I knew he was right, and I couldn't argue with that, I just didn't know what I was going to do to get her kids to like me at all.  I hadn't had much interaction with kids, usually kids were kept away from the events that were hosted around work, and since I had gotten into a rut with only going to work related events and few charity events, I hadn't spent much time around any to really give it much of a try.  I started to relax a little pulling into the parking lot of the venue that Alex had booked for this, relieved to finally be here, but then I got a bit more anxious without a plan from this moment on.  I hadn't thought this fully through for once and felt like I was walking in a pitch black labyrinth not knowing if a pit awaited my next turn.

    "It will be alright, Damian.  You said you were serious, and anytime you are, I have always had your back, right?"  I nodded letting out a deep breath.  "I have some plans of my own to help you out, I'm sure it will work out and that tonight will mark a turn, a chance to get closer to her, okay?"

    "Thanks, though I am not sure I like plans I have no clue on, but I'll take what I can get at this moment."  I run a hand through my hair, not remembering a time I actually felt this nervous about trying to impress someone since normally they are trying to impress me.

    We get out and head inside, a smile ghosting along my face as I take in the environment, perfect for mixing and talking to a variety of people, the floor in the center holding people chatting quite cheerfully.  I haven't spotted her yet as my eyes drift around the room, until I spot her and  two people I didn't expect to see here yet.

    "Mom! Dad!  I didn't know you were coming tonight!"  There are my parents standing next to Nicole, my father holding a child in his arms, and another woman and a young woman were sitting at the table they were standing next to.  I heard Alex chuckle, and knew this was part of his plan.

    Walking over to them, I saw Nicole's eye's shift between me and my parents and a look of realization on her face.  I'm hoping desperately that they haven't explained who they are or who I am, I want her to fall for me as me, not what I am.  My mother throws me a cheerful wink, while holding an icepack for some reason, and my father laughs at the look on my face.

    "Can't you ever show up to anything on time.  I swear you love to make an entrance.  Stop distracting us, we have more important things to deal with right now."  My mother jokingly says to me, and Nicole watches with a bit of confusion, before pulling out a seat for my father to put the little girl on.

    "Now, you've been a really good and patient young lady, can you show me your knee that got hurt?"  My father kneels in front of the little girl after setting her down, and I watch as she starts tugging her pant leg up to show a knee that is showing the beginnings of a bruise.

    "I'm a kid, not a young lady.  Mom is a lady, and Hannah is almost a lady, but I'm a kid."  The little girl says quite clearly stating her opinion, making my parents laugh and Nicole blush a little.

    "Thank you for carrying her over here, but it seems you must be busy and want to catch up with your family," Nicole's eyes shift to me before going back to my parents," I really can take it from here, I wouldn't want for us to burden you with this."

    "Nonsense, we are happy to help, and thank you for correcting me..." my father looks at the little girl and waits for her to respond."

    "I'm Rose, and that's my mom.  I call her mom, but everyone else calls her Nicole.  That's Grandma, and that's Hannah."  Rose performs introductions all around and sits waiting.

    "Well Rose, I am Xander, and this is my wife Val.  That's our son Damian and his best friend Alex.  Your knee looks like that bruise will hurt a bit, can you tug your pant leg down again and we can put some ice on it to help you feel better?"  

    Rose does as she askes and my mom helps Rose adjust the ice pack on her leg.  The older woman at the table laughs a little at Rose's comments and the young woman gets up and hugs Nicole from behind resting her head on Nicole's shoulder.

    "Well, as Rose said, I am Grandma, otherwise known as Linda."  Linda stands up to shake hands with everyone, and then looks at Nicole with a smirk.  "Now I see what Jen was talking about."

    Nicole blushes again, and ignores the comment, instead focusing on talking to the young lady that is almost a mirror image of her.  "You are never this shy, are you going to say hello?"

    "Greetings fellow earth dwellers.  Now give me loves."  Nicole laughs at this and starts stroking her daughters head that is still resting on her shoulder.  My parents laugh at this interplay and my father stands up to talk to Hannah.

    "Well, that is by far the most unique greeting I've had in some time, and may I say quite possibly my favorite one as well."  Hannah looks up at my father for a moment before smiling broadly.

    "Then you have excellent taste, sir.  I might accept you as one of my people."

    This triggers everyone to laugh, and I can't remember the last time anyone talked to my father that way, even Alex still was a touch on the cautious side here and there, and my parents had practically adopted him as a second child.  My father looked stunned for a moment but laughed as well, and my mother smiled up at Hannah.

    "Are you sure I can't take you with me to keep these guys in check?  I think that you may be one of my new favorite people."  

    "You can take me!  But only for a little bit, because otherwise mom would be sad without Rose loves.  He looks like a prince from a story!  Do you think he might be mom's prince?  Hannah says since mom calls us princesses that make's her the queen, but she doesn't have a king or a prince.  I think he would make a great prince."  Rose says looking around and points at me to be the prince.  Seems I already have one kid on my side, and a very cute one at that.